To learn more about the Junior Ranger Program

throughout the National Park Service, please visit:

https://www.nps.gov/kids/jrrangers.cfm

This book was created and designed by Park Ranger Rachel Post

with input from Congaree National Park Staff.

Illustrations by Park Ranger Rachel Post and VIP Carol Gist.

Cover by Stephen Chesley (photograph of a watercolor)

This book belongs to:

Junior Ranger

Welcome to Congaree National Park! You are on

your way to becoming a Junior Ranger! Now is

your chance to explore the plants, animals, and

water that make up the old-growth bottomland

hardwood forest at Congaree.

To become a Junior Ranger:

1. Complete the number of activities for your age:

Under 7 Complete any 3 activities

Ages 8-10 Complete any 6 activities

Ages 11+ Complete any 8 activities

2. Have a ranger or park volunteer review your

book and sign your certificate.

3. Be sworn in as a Junior Ranger and receive your

patch or badge

4. Help protect Congaree for future visitors and

Junior Rangers.

If you do not complete your book while at Congaree, mail

it to: 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061

and we will send you your badge.

1 14

Congaree National Park is proud to bestow upon

the title of

Junior Ranger

Pledge: As a Junior Ranger, I promise to protect and preserve every animal and tree, and the

history of Congaree for all to see.

Park Ranger/Volunteer

Enjoy and Protect your Park Scavenger Hunt

As you explore Congaree, observe what you see

around you. Circle the pictures of the things you

see.

Our National Parks are

here for all people to

enjoy now and in the

future. So that we can

all have the best and

safest experience, it’s

important to follow

certain guidelines. Use

the sign language

symbols in the box to

break the code and find

out how you can help.

• Always carry a __ __ __

• Dress appropriately for the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ and

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

• __ __ __ __ __ plenty of __ __ __ __ __

• Do not __ __ __ __ the __ __ __ __ __ __ __

• __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of __ __ __ __ __ properly

• Leave __ __ __ __ __ __ and __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

where you find them.

Snake Anole

Hawk

Dwarf

Palmetto Snag

Butterfly

Crawfish

Chimney

Spider

Owl

Turtle

Cypress Knee

Woodpecker

13 2

Owl Maze

Betty the Barred Owl has been out hunting

tonight. The great horned owls are out hunting for

smaller owls, like Betty, and for owlet eggs.

Help Betty find her way through the maze and to

her nest safely by avoiding her predators.

Draw a line showing the route she should take.

Hey, Ranger!

There are all kinds of different rangers in a National Park.

There are historians, accountants, law enforcement officers,

biologists, and photographers. All of them work together to

make our parks special now and for future generations. Find

a ranger or volunteer and ask these questions to find out

about the job that person does.

What kind of work do you do?

What is something you enjoy about your job?

Why did you decide to work or volunteer for the National

Park Service?

How are you helping to make your park better for the

future?

Looking Ahead

Parks like Congaree will always need

people to protect and preserve them.

You can help!

What type of NPS employee or

volunteer would you like to be?

Why?

Draw a picture of yourself or the person you interviewed.

START

FINISH

3 12

Let Me Tell You About My Visit!

Have you enjoyed your visit? Did you see or learn

anything that you would like to share with a friend or

relative? Help spread the word about Congaree so

others will want to visit and care for this special place.

Use this page to tell everyone what you liked or learned.

Let’s Move!

The coolest way for Junior Rangers to see their National

Parks is through recreation! What kind of activities can

you do at Congaree?

Recreation is any outdoor activity that gets your body

moving, your heart pumping and helps you stay healthy.

Find the recreation words in the word search. They can be

horizontal, vertical, forwards, backwards, or diagonal.

C X D G R A H X V E

L B K X P D S L U F

I X R M P V I D O I

M V A E C E F F C L

B C I A A N K N W D

F R N E N T H I F L

C O B D W U H H H I

E X P L O R E E Z W

K A Y A K E B I K E

S R O O D T U O F Q

ADVENTURE

BREATHE

CANOE

FISH

KAYAK

VIEW

BIKE

CAMP

EXPLORE

HIKE

OUTDOORS

WILDLIFE

You can paste a photo here or

share on your favorite social

media site or at

http://findyourpark.com/share.

Always ask a parent before

sharing photos or information

on the internet.

To:

Dear,

Sincerely,

11 4

5

What is a Floodplain?

A floodplain is a low place near a river that gets wet

when there is too much water for the river to hold.

Congaree National Park lies in the floodplain of the

Congaree River. Sometimes, the Congaree River

floods, and the nutrient-rich water spills over its

banks and into the floodplain. The creek within the

park, Cedar Creek, can also flood when the Congaree

River floods.

The water level can rise high enough to cover the elevated

boardwalk!

Be a Junior Ranger scientist by using the data posted at the

visitor center front desk to complete the chart. Then read

and answer the questions.

Today’s Date: Water Level

Above or Below

its Threshold?

Congaree River

Cedar Creek

A river or creek’s threshold is the highest water level before

the water overflows its banks. The Congaree River’s threshold

is about 15 feet. Cedar Creek’s threshold is about 8 feet.

What does this tell you about the floodplain right now?

Your Life, My Life

Compare and contrast how the

Congaree Indians and Maroon Communities

lived by answering these questions.

Where did they live?

How did they get their food?

What problems did these two groups face?

What are some differences between how you live and

how the Congaree Indians and Maroon Communities

lived?

5 10

Congaree National Park did not always appear as it does

today. The first known residents of the area, the Congaree

Indians, lived in houses made of sticks and clay in a small

village on the bluffs, across the Congaree River from what is

now the park. They used the floodplain for hunting and fishing,

often crossing the river. They raised crops such as corn, beans,

and squash. The number of Congaree declined due to smallpox

in the late 1600’s and several wars in the early 1700’s, and

remaining members joined the Catawba.

Maroon Communities of escaped slaves lived in floodplains, like

Congaree, and swamps throughout the South. These areas,

often unexplored due to flooding, wildlife, and even cypress

knees, were a safe hiding place. Living on high ground in

structures made of available materials, the residents raised

crops such as corn and rice. Plentiful fish and wildlife

significantly contributed to their diet. Raids on nearby

plantations also kept them supplied. Although Maroon

Communities offered freedom from slavery there was still a

threat of the militia breaking up the community or returning

the residents to slavery.

Cultural History The Arrowhead

The National Park System includes over 400 units in

the United States, and just like Congaree National

Park, they are all unique and special places. These

areas include national parks, monuments, military

parks, seashores, historic sites, recreation areas, and

numerous others.

All of these special places belong to YOU to explore

and enjoy.

The arrowhead on the right is the emblem

of the National Park Service.

Each symbol in the arrowhead represents

something the National Park Service

protects and preserves. Fill in each blank

below with a symbol from the word bank:

The _______________________________ represents all plants.

The _______________________________ represents all animals.

The _______________________________ represents the human

history of our nation.

The ___________________________ and ___________________________

represent all landscapes and water resources.

Word Bank

mountain river bison

arrowhead outline sequoia tree

9 6

Timelines tell a story and help us understand. They

also tell us what happened when and how much time

went by between events. This timeline tells some of

the major events that happened at Congaree

National Park and the surrounding areas.

You too are part of this history. Mark your

birthday on the timeline

Mark today’s date on the timeline

Mark 1 significant event in your life on the

timeline

1541 – Hernando de

Soto passes through

the area.

1740 – English

build inland roads

and ferries

1000 – Congaree

Indians established

1776 – Francis Marion

hides in South Carolina

Forests (not Congaree).

1775-1783

Revolutionary War

1760-1830

Height of Maroon

Communities in South

Carolina

1861-1865

Civil War

1895 – Francis Beidler

obtains land throughout

South Carolina. Logging

begins.

1915 – Logging ceases

1969 – Logging interest

renewed. Interest to preserve

Congaree strengthens.

1976 – Congaree Swamp

National Monument

established.

2003 – Congaree National

Park established as the

57th National Park.

2016 – National Park

Service Centennial &

Congaree’s 40th Anniversary.

Draw a Birthday Cake

Draw loggers cutting down

trees

Draw a fisherman

1700

1800

1900

2000

1000 1541

= break in time

1914-1918

World War I

1941-1945

World War II

1701 – First description

of the Congaree Indians

1715-1717

Yamasee War

The number of

Congaree are in

decline and they

merge with the

Catawba.

7 8